WILL DRAW THE COLOR LINE. - Idella Allen - Athenian Cycling Club - The San Francisco Examiner, 15 Dec 1895

Idella Allen Athenian Cycling Club 15 Dec 1895, Sun The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

Idella Allen was 18 in 1895, a confident young Black woman, holder of a new bicycle racing record for the mile. Because racing was segregated, her record was qualified as that for 'colored women,' and she sought to validate it as a record for women. She was already breaking barriers as a Black woman cyclist, and with this challenge, she demanded a response from the new, White women's cycling club, recently reformed after a scandal, the Athenia Cyclers. The Athenia Cyclers did not rise to the occasion. - MF

WILL DRAW THE COLOR LINE.

The Athenian Cyclers Have Been Challenged by the Champion Colored Scorcher.

SHE CLAIMS THE WORLD'S RECORD.

Miss Idella Allen Is Very Anxious to Have a Race With Some of the Bloomer Girls of Oakland

Oakland office of "The Examiner,"

918 Broadway. 

OAKLAND, December 14. - Miss Idella Allen, the champion colored cycler, known among her friends as "The Pride of Oakland," is not satisfied with the record she has made among those of her own race, and proposes to give white people a chance to show whether they or she can make the fastest time.

Idella Allen.
(The young colored record-breaker who has challenged the Athenian cyclers to a race for more records. From a photograph.)

Some months ago a number of Oakland ladies organized the Oak Leaf Cycling Club, which achieved some fame by its radical stand for bloomers and reform dress. The club was finally disbanded, but the ladies were prompt to organize a successor, which bears the name of "The Athenian Cyclers." This club has a number of prominent ladies among its members. To this club Miss Allen has issued the following challenge:

761 Market st., Oakland, December 9, 1895.

Mrs. R. A. Quintel, President Athenian Cyclers, Oakland - Madam: Having lowered the ladies' mile cycling record to 2:46 2-5 in the race held under the auspices of the San Jose Cycling Club at San Jose on December 2, 1895, I hereby challenge your club or any member thereof, to compete for my championship at such time and place as you may designate.

IDELLA ALLEN. 

In speaking of her challenge, Miss Allen said: "I now hold the world's ladies' racing record and I intend to retain it. I do not wish to do so unless it belongs to me and the only way to definitely decide the matter is for these ladies to come to time and show what they can do. We hope to bring the white and colored cyclers together soon and I take this step to start the ball a-rolling. Perhaps these ladies don't wish me as a member of their club, but I am thinking of sending in my application for membership to let them show how colored people stand in their estimation."

Just how the Athenian Cycling Club will take this challenge and these remarks is not certain, but Mrs. Schlueter, treasurer of the club, when seen to-day was frank to express her individual opinion. In speaking of the matter she said: "I do not think our ladies will care to engage in a race with a colored girl. Of course, that could not be settled except through a meeting of the club, which would have to be called by the President, Mrs. Quintal. If the question. comes before her, I suppose some action may be taken."

The Chicago Chronicle picked up this story:

Colored Girl Wants to Ride Against White Women of Oakland. 22 Dec 1895, Sun The Chicago Chronicle (Chicago, Illinois) Newspapers.com